b'CANADA NEEDS A SYSTEM OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENTThe Seeds Canada Semi-Annual Meeting shone a light on the one major quality members say Canadas seed regulatory system must possess.Marc ZienkiewiczSEEDS CANADA MEMBERSgot a first glimpse into the Seed Regulatory Modernization (SRM) process in November when the organization held its first in-person Semi-Annual Meeting in Ottawa, Ont.Seeds Canada presented its official position on numer-ous recommendations of the first three SRM task teams, which recently completed their work and have put their recommendations forward to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) for consideration in moderniz-ing Canadas seed system.At this point, were only allowed to have those discus-sions within the members room, but are pretty excited that those reports are starting to come out. So were start-ing to be able to share some of thosefindings and how they align with our principles with our members, saidCorteva Agriscience technical services manager Dave Harwood (left) and Seed Canada President Ellen Sparry. Canterra Seeds pedigreed seed business unit director Brent Derkatch Were also hopeful that the Canadian Food Inspectionwere part of a panel at the 2022 Seeds Canada Semi-Annual Meeting.Agency is going to be able to release those in a more public way in the new year. I think itll be exciting for everyone to understand whats in them and what the pro-cess is going to be.Nearly two years after the formation of Seeds Canada, the semi-annual meeting was a chance for members to catch up and reflect on the past four months since the annual meeting was held in July in Winnipeg, Man. Seeds Canada unveiled a number of new initiatives at the semi-annual meeting, including the launch of a new members portal.But, as usual, it was the policy discussion that mem-bers and staff were particularly excited about.Topics this year included the Independent StandardsLorne Hadley is Seeds CanadaEllen Sparry serves as president Setting Body (ISSB Seed Value Chain) proposal, firstpolicy director. of Seeds Canada.unveiled in July at the annual meeting in Winnipeg, and SRM in general. For a relatively new organization that hasntThe concept of the ISSB Seed Value Chain is to bring quite turned two yet (Seeds Canada marks its second anni- together stakeholders across the value chain, to act as an versary on Feb. 1, 2023), the number of portfolios it has inadvisory body to ensure that Canadas seed sector has a front of it is significant. continuous dialogue at all times to ensure those incremen-The biggest focus has been on SRM and not just look- tal regulatory improvements can be made when theyre ing at the more minor changes we can make to the Seedsneeded, Comin said.Regulations, but figuring out how we set up a system that isThe need for timely regulatory change was a big future-proof and allows us to have continuous improvementtheme at the meeting. During a panel discussion featur-in our regulatory system so that we dont have to keeping seed industry professionals, the fact that technologi-doing these sorts of large-scale project-type reviews on acal change is coming at the industry faster than ever was regular basis, said Lauren Comin, Seeds Canada regulatorymade clearas was the need for industry to be able to affairs manager.respond to those changes quickly, something that will 16GERMINATION.CAJANUARY 2023'